History of Franklin County Virginia United States of America

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John McDowell, educator, was born in Monaghan, Pa., in 1751; son of William and Mary (Maxwell) McDowell. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1771; was a tutor there, 1769-82; professor of mathematics at St. John's college, Annapolis, Md., in 1789, and was principal of the college, 1790-1806. McDowell Hall, the principal building of St. John's college, was named in his honor. He was professor of natural philosophy atthe University of Pennsylvania, 1806-10, and provost of the university, 1807-10. He resigned both his offices in 1810 on account of ill health. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1807. He was a member of the American Philosophical society. He presented to the University of Pennsylvania his large library, each volume containing his autograph. He died in Franklin county, Va., Dec. 18, 1820.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jubal Anderson Early, soldier, was born in Franklin county, Va., Nov. 3, 1816. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1837 and served one year as lieutenant in the Florida war, when he resigned from the army and devoted himself to the study and practice of law. He was a member of the lower house of the Virginia legislature, 1841-42, and commonwealth attorney, 1842-52, meanwhile serving, 1847-48, in Mexico as major of a regiment of Virginia volunteers, and was governor of Monterey after its capture in 1347. He joined the Confederate army as colonel of Virginia troops in 1861 and at the battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861, commanded a brigade. At Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, he was severely wounded, being carried to the rear and reported as dead. For his action at Williamsburg he was promoted brigadier-general. He did not engage in the battle of Chancellorsville, having been placed in command of the division that held the lines at Fredericksburg during that battle. At Gettysburg he commanded a division and gallantly disputed the ground held by him in that battle. He was assigned to the command of the Shenandoah valley in 1864 with the rank of lieutenant-general. Commanding the nearest outpost to the Federal troops, he continually harassed them. In July, 1864, he crossed the Potomac, gained a victory at Monocacy, put the national capital in danger of forcible possession by his troops and was only deterred from accomplishing his purpose by exaggerated accounts of the strength of its defending army. He defeated Generals Cook and Averill at Kernstown, Va., July 24, made a cavalry expedition across Maryland later in the month, when McCausland advanced with a portion of his cavalry into Pennsylvania and burned Chambersburg in retaliation for the farm houses burned by General Hunter in the Shenandoah valley. The cavalry of McCausland and Bradley Johnson were defeated at Moorefield, August 7, and Early encountered Sheridan the same day and fell back to Fisher's Hill. At the Opequon, September 19, he was driven back and again on the 22d from Fisher's Hill. He surprised Sheridan's army at Cedar Creek, October 19, and completely routed it. This apparent victory was, however, turned into defeat late in the afternoon by the arrival of Sheridan, who was absent during the first day's fight. This incident gave rise to the immortal story of "Sheridan's ride." General Early lost his heavy trains and most of his artillery. He met the cavalry under Custer in March, 1865, at Waynesboro, and was badly defeated and a few days later General Lee relieved him from his command of the troops in the valley. After the surrender he went to Europe and on his return to Richmond, Va., he practised law. He became interested with General Beauregard in conducting the Louisiana state lottery, continuing in the service of that company until its suppression by process of a newly enacted law. He was president of the Southern historical society and spent his last days at Lynchburg, Va., where he claimed to be the only Confederate general who had not accepted the conditions outlined in the surrender of the army. He published A Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence in the Confederate States (1867). He died in Lynchburg, Va., March 2, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Franklin County Virginia

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